Jane |UTA|

⑩

"And it's all okay? You're doing good in school and making friends?",

"Yes mum, I'm doing fine. Amber is surprisingly responsible" Jane repeated for the nth time.

"I know I'm being annoying, but I'm just worried" she reminded her, and Jane could only imagine her waggling her boney finger.

"There's nothing wrong with it, it's just a bit late mum",

"I'm sorry, I couldn't clear my schedule to speak to you earlier. I'm sorry hun" she coos with a fatigued sigh escaping her lips.

"Don't worry. It's fine. I just have to study-",

"You're studying!" Her mum interrupted in surprise,

"Yeah, a lot of the curriculum expects that you've memorised what they've already covered. So Akira recommended that I get it over with",

"Well, that's great. I'm glad you have friends helping you get comfortable",

"She and Yui and both great. And because of this, I can help her and Akira brush up on their English" Jane added.

"That's great love. But, sadly I'm gonna have to leave you here, there's still books that need to be marked",

"Yeah, love you",

"Love you too".

⦿

"Good morning" Jane greeted Uta, with her signature smile curling at the edges of her pink lips.

"Good morning" he repeated before gesturing for them to walk down the stairs to the train. And while Jane inspected his whole attire. She could understand the black jacket and the jeans on such a cloudy day. Yet, what puzzled her was the black tinted glasses that held his eyes from sight.

"It isn't that sunny out. Shouldn't you take off the sunglasses" Jane pointed out, attempting to pull them away from his face to only have Uta jerk back.

"No, I like them" he mumbled awkwardly, which was strange.

"Are you sure?",

"I'm sure" he smiled in reply once they finally climbed onto the carriage. Thankfully, it wasn't as busy, therefore they got to sit down silently, with only the rattle of the train to fill their ears.

Every once in a while, Uta would turn his eyes to the corner, allowing him to see her through the gap of his glasses. He watched her every movement even if small. The way she would tuck a lock of hair behind her head, or when her eyelashes brushed against her cheeks once she blinked... Even the way her chest rose and fell with each breath had him mesmerised.

"Is there a reason for your staring?" She giggled while she nudged his side. That's when the vicious, sadistic ghoul was forced from his daydream of the girl before him.

"You have a spider on your ear" he lied,

"Why didn't you tell me!-" Jane suddenly screamed, "- I'm scared of spiders!" She continued to exclaim before rising from her seat and running her hands frantically across her uniform. That meant she failed to realise Uta trying to contain his boisterous laughter. And when she finally sat back down, her breathing laboured from all the fidgeting, she turned to her friend with her hair caught in a pig's sty.

Jane did expect him to tease her, call her disastrous and a child. However, when their eyes met, laughter burst from their lips as she smoothed down her hair. That's when he looked over her body, unconsciously gnawing at the inside of his bottom lip.

"Why don't you skip school today?" Uta suggested as he took a stray piece of hair between his fingers and pushed it back.

"I can't skip-" Jane gasped, "- My sister is a teacher there, she'll notice if I'm gone",

"Listen, just call her and say you felt sick on the train. And if she doesn't believe you, say it's because you got felt up in the carriage",

"Uta!" She exclaimed with a giggle before slapping at his chest. He faked hurt by clutching at his chest until he straightened up, showing that he was genuinely serious.

"Come on. It won't hurt to make one phone call",

"It will. I'll be lying to my sister",

"Jane... Do you even want to go back there?".

Jane remained silent as the train came to the stop. On -what seemed to be instinct- she walked from the carriage with her bag over her shoulder. Of course Uta followed her there, both his hands on either side of the door.

"One day... That's all I want... Then you can learn math to your heart's content".

Jane kept silent while she looked up at him through her long, black lashes. Her mind was trapped in contemplation. She promised her mum to stay safe, as well as her sister. However, she was also told to get out of her shell, live life to the fullest at least.

Jane could feel her heart hammering at her chest, the blood rising to her cheeks and heat embracing her small form. With each second, she held her bag strap tighter. Nothing could settle her mind, this was a choice that could change everything.

Then before she knew it...
She stepped forward.